Originally Posted by woolberger:
Lesley,

I don't think there is a recipe for macronutrients in maintenance. Dr. Tran gives us advice about not combining carbs & fats and what to do after you have a major "slip", but he says that dieting and maintaining are two different animals. He says maintaining involves "dietetics". How many carbs, fats, protein and calories you will need to maintain will have everything to do with how much you weigh, how active you are, etc. I use *********pal.com to track my daily intake. If you enter your weight, activity, etc, it gives you a target to maintain your weight. There are thousands of foods in their database including Ideal Protein products. All the stats have already been entered. I tend to eat all the calories I'm allowed but eat higher amounts of protein and fiber, and lower amounts of fats and carbs. It's working for me so far! It's a free service. There are lots of free tracking sites on-line. Hope this gives you some ideas. It is hard to give up the structure of phases 1&2.

Lynn

Thanks Lynn, I actually downloaded Dr. Tran's book to my eReader today, and we are taking a day trip into the city tomorrow (2.5 hrs) so I hope to get some of it read. I realize now that I basically stumbled through Phase 1 & 2 without really knowing what I was doing, and I guess that was ok. Follow protocol, success. But maintenance seems to require some real knowledge. So thats what I will do. Educate myself. I do track everything with livestrong.com, but I think thats what got me in this OCD mess i'm in. lol. I will just let the rest go to what I know so well, phase 2, and put my energy obsessing over breakfast! Which was fantastic this morning - once I quit stressing about it and actually enjoyes the foods....aaahhhhh. :dizzy: Thanks for the advice. :)

Originally Posted by darbs7:
Well....I am not really successful at this point. I am managing to keep the weight off and lose a pound or two here or there, but damn...I have too much fun. married young...parents by 19/21....now we are just enjoying our empty nest and each other a ton.

I will have two months with no travel from April 22 to June 28 (well one overnight)...but that is manageable.

But I am thrilled to be down 70 pounds! I just wish I could focus and lose another 15 and be done.

If 70 pounds isn't successful I don't know what is! Life is short - enjoy it!! It must be interesting getting to "re-know" your hubby! You are SSOOOOO CLOOOSEEE to goal! Buckle down and GETTER DONE! hehe. Just think of how much easier it will be to go on all of your trips when you have some wiggle room in phase 4! You won't have to feel guilty for slip ups, and really get to enjoy yourself - without that lil voice in the back of your head.

Originally Posted by Lesley:

If 70 pounds isn't successful I don't know what is! Life is short - enjoy it!! It must be interesting getting to "re-know" your hubby! You are SSOOOOO CLOOOSEEE to goal! Buckle down and GETTER DONE! hehe. Just think of how much easier it will be to go on all of your trips when you have some wiggle room in phase 4! You won't have to feel guilty for slip ups, and really get to enjoy yourself - without that lil voice in the back of your head.

Your words are the exact conversation that I had with my hubby yesterday. Thanks for confirming what I have been rolling around in my mind. When I return from Atlantic City on the 22nd...I will have a big chunk of time until Las Vegas about 8 weeks....my plan is to lose as much as possible between those two times.....I have 6 pounds to my original goal, but I want to lose another 15 after that. So I may or may not phase off before Vegas...I am going to go until that 15 is gone....hopefully I can phase off if not...looks like August before I will have enough weeks in a row, but at least I will be a significantly lower weight.

I have come so far, every day that I spend struggling and challenged is a day that I have made a permanent change in my life and overall behavior. As my hubby tells me...we are not in a race...this is a marathon...we are winning your life back. I am very confident I will reach my ultimate goal before I hit the one year mark on this diet (that would be down 100 pounds...146)...one year September 13th.

In the meantime...all the fun we are having is great in all my size 8 and 10 clothes....from a size 18...I am very thrilled.:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot:

Originally Posted by calival:
Hi experienced IPers. I have a question that is keeping me up nights. does everyone lose hair on this program?? has anyone not had the hair loss?? is it a given if you lose weight you lose your hair?? Thanks in advance, calival

i was having problems..I went to Vitamin World and started using a shampoo by Jason..it has biotin in the shampoo, plus started taking omega fish oil 1000 mg and a biotin 5000mcg..this made the difference...at Sally's buy a deep hair conditioner...the Ideal Protein family said that if you have some hair loss its only temporary and that when it comes back its stronger and softer ..your program director should have info on this...

But my hair is now getting softer and fuller...so this is what worked for me...
I need to update my pictures...
:hug:

Originally Posted by darbs7:
Your words are the exact conversation that I had with my hubby yesterday. Thanks for confirming what I have been rolling around in my mind. When I return from Atlantic City on the 22nd...I will have a big chunk of time until Las Vegas about 8 weeks....my plan is to lose as much as possible between those two times.....I have 6 pounds to my original goal, but I want to lose another 15 after that. So I may or may not phase off before Vegas...I am going to go until that 15 is gone....hopefully I can phase off if not...looks like August before I will have enough weeks in a row, but at least I will be a significantly lower weight.

I have come so far, every day that I spend struggling and challenged is a day that I have made a permanent change in my life and overall behavior. As my hubby tells me...we are not in a race...this is a marathon...we are winning your life back. I am very confident I will reach my ultimate goal before I hit the one year mark on this diet (that would be down 100 pounds...146)...one year September 13th.

In the meantime...all the fun we are having is great in all my size 8 and 10 clothes....from a size 18...I am very thrilled.:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot:

Darbs your the best...go get em girl

Well In 4 weeks I have a wedding coming up..the family will be there and see me for the first time...its going to be exciting..
I have 4 lbs to goal and my Doctor wants me to drop a few more for wiggle room...
I'm ready in so many ways..but I will need the old me to behave..but I always will have Ideal Protein if I need it..and I will know to use it if I gain 5 lbs..not 70 lbs...

When I get that red swimsuit I will let everyone know...

:comp:

Originally Posted by darbs7:
I know...I had scheduled this as a cheat weekend. I have one more planned for April 15-20, but I should be below my goal by then. But when I return from that I will go back to phase 1 for another 4-5 weeks and see how far below I can get by Memorial Day weekend and then I am phasing off. I can't believe I am only 8 pounds from goal...I am so excited.

Jody, we had another thread going, but it was closed up for over the limit in posts....you might want to read through it...similar title...just closed up about a week ago or less. Great ladies in this group.




I totally understand your struggle I have been in a major struggle for 2 months now. I took a different approach...I planned cheat events every 2-3 weeks and then I am trying to be perfect in between and lose 3-5 pounds during that time. This is so hard...so hard. But you should be very proud you have done very well and take a break and then come back in the fall when you feel fresh and ready. good luck to you and check in.

We all need Cheat times....just continue to be good to yourself the next day and be back on...

Originally Posted by JudoGirl:
Well In 4 weeks I have a wedding coming up..the family will be there and see me for the first time...its going to be exciting..
I have 4 lbs to goal and my Doctor wants me to drop a few more for wiggle room...
I'm ready in so many ways..but I will need the old me to behave..but I always will have Ideal Protein if I need it..and I will know to use it if I gain 5 lbs..not 70 lbs...

When I get that red swimsuit I will let everyone know...

:comp:

Hey good to see you here. I know I am so close to my goal, but I have rethought that a ton....my family doctor says I need to get to 156 to have a healthy BMI so I am heading for it. So then I thought only 10 pounds from 146...(that would be 100 pounds lost...so I might try for that). I will probably end up a size 4 and that is pretty tiny so we will see.

I hope your family freaks out when they see you...you have kicked butt! We need a picture of that swimsuit when you get it.

So my daughter is moving to Austin and going to Le Cordon Bleu.

Originally Posted by JudoGirl:
Well In 4 weeks I have a wedding coming up..the family will be there and see me for the first time...its going to be exciting..
I have 4 lbs to goal and my Doctor wants me to drop a few more for wiggle room...
I'm ready in so many ways..but I will need the old me to behave..but I always will have Ideal Protein if I need it..and I will know to use it if I gain 5 lbs..not 70 lbs...

When I get that red swimsuit I will let everyone know...

:comp:

Your big reveal!!!! I am so excited for you!!! So....will it be a little black dress??

Originally Posted by darbs7:
Well....I am not really successful at this point. I am managing to keep the weight off and lose a pound or two here or there, but damn...I have too much fun. married young...parents by 19/21....now we are just enjoying our empty nest and each other a ton.

I will have two months with no travel from April 22 to June 28 (well one overnight)...but that is manageable.

But I am thrilled to be down 70 pounds! I just wish I could focus and lose another 15 and be done.

Not gaining and maintaining is the goal at this point. It is called living life Darbs!! and you are doing great, even with the stress your "empty nest gal" is giving you. Way to go!

Originally Posted by ladyvrod:
Not gaining and maintaining is the goal at this point. It is called living life Darbs!! and you are doing great, even with the stress your "empty nest gal" is giving you. Way to go!

YES! LIfe is short and the key is that at the end of every month I weigh less than the end of the month before...these are going to be lifelong changes.

Lost another 1.5 pounds this weekend...4.5 pounds from my original goal, but I am going to try and lose another 14 after that. Very happy:carrot::carrot:

Morning everyone. Have a super day!!!

Wow, I really lost my motivation and willpower for a month. I am still wearing all my same clothes, but don't feel the same and also am a little afraid to step on the scale. I am back at it and ready to go today. I have a plan and my food lined out. Here we go again!

Originally Posted by carlasherea:
Wow, I really lost my motivation and willpower for a month. I am still wearing all my same clothes, but don't feel the same and also am a little afraid to step on the scale. I am back at it and ready to go today. I have a plan and my food lined out. Here we go again!

Right there with you Carlasherea! I always struggle when I know I am leaving or going somewhere for the weekend. I am planning on trying to minimize damage this week and get back on track next Monday!

Originally Posted by carlasherea:
Wow, I really lost my motivation and willpower for a month. I am still wearing all my same clothes, but don't feel the same and also am a little afraid to step on the scale. I am back at it and ready to go today. I have a plan and my food lined out. Here we go again!

Welcome back and we are all here ready to support you....we are all feeling the pain.

Originally Posted by mepeterson:
Right there with you Carlasherea! I always struggle when I know I am leaving or going somewhere for the weekend. I am planning on trying to minimize damage this week and get back on track next Monday!

Morning Melissa....I will be going away Saturday-Tuesday....New Hope Pa for wine tour...with chocolates, bread and food pairings....yup sounds like trouble. Then to Atlantic City for three nights...again trouble. But back at it perfect next Wednesday and no cheats until goal after that. I think I will be awesomely skinny by summer!:cool: